Bulgarian hoteliers: 80% of theft signals submitted by foreign tourists resting at Black Sea resorts are fake

Foreign tourists abuse en mass the image of Bulgaria as a risk state by submitting fake signals for theft in order to avail themselves of the cash compensation from their travel insurances, claimed to the CROSS news Agency Elena Ivanova, Deputy Chairwoman of the Bulgarian Hotel and Restaurant Association (BHRA), as well as a hotel owner at the Sunny Beach Resort and Chair of the Union of the Owners of Sunny Beach.

What we certainly do know, including hoteliers and the police, and which is a public secret, is that 80% of these signals are false. Police officials, however, are obliged to register the submitted signals in their reports, explained Ivanova. According to her, foreign tourists definitely misuse information about our country, arguing that it is not safe enough, that many thefts occur here and that holiday makers must protect their belongings.

Unfortunately, this abuse of information is not committed by Bulgarians but mostly by European guests. They have been declaring missing items either from their rooms or from the beach. They have been lodging claims for exorbitant sums of several thousand Euros which they would have found impossible to bring on their vacation. Especially considering the price of the all-inclusive holiday booking in which every service is provided, retorted BHRA's Chairwoman.

If the hotel rooms are secured with electronic access cards instead of keys, it can be proven immediately that nobody has entered the room because the card usually memorises over 500-600 records. As a result, any offence can be easily detected. At the moment it is established, the tourist can no longer raise claims. The submission of fake signals has already become a professional distortion of our guests. They know very well that the moment they file a signal with the local police which issues a certificate of offence, their domestic insurer will cover the cost of their missing belongings or money, despite the fact that there has been no theft. This is a well-rehearsed vicious practice, stated hoteliers.

Elena Ivanova does not deny that there are thefts. Usually, however, they occur in apartment complexes lacking the necessary anti-fraud organisation. She advises tourists to use cash boxes like the ones available in all reputable hotels. There, thefts can be very easily detected thanks to the installed cameras.

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